ARCATA, Calif. – It wasn't easy, but the Humboldt State women's basketball team captured its seventh consecutive win. The Green and Gold defeated Sonoma State 58-53 Thursday night in Lumberjack Arena.
"I was pleased with how we came out, but we just had a lot of lulls in the game," said HSU Head Coach
Michelle Bento-Jackson. "We were still in control of the situation, we weren't playing our best basketball by any means. The pressure was on us tonight and it was our backs against the wall. Those are very hard games to finish off with a win. I am happy that we found a way to win the game."
On a night when the team shot just 31.1 percent from the field and committed an uncharacteristically high 17 turnovers, HSU found a way to grind out a victory. Junior
Alexia Thrower led the way with her team-leading 14th double-double. Thrower had six points and 10 boards at the half, and the home team was up 27-18 against their NorCal neighbors. The Seawolves went ice cold offensively in the second quarter as they ended the half with a scoreless stretch over the final five minutes.
Sonoma State opened the third quarter on a 12-4 run which proved to be a sign of things to come as the visitors kept the game close in the second half. The Jacks showed they could match the Seawolves shot for shot as they closed out the quarter with a 9-2 burst that was capped with an
Isamar Conde trey at the buzzer.
Things looked grim for the Green and Gold as Sonoma State scored the first 13 points of the last frame to erase the Jacks lead and go in front 48-44. Timely long-distance baskets from Conde and
Jovanah Arrington and consistent shooting at the charity stripe put the home team ahead in the game's closing minutes.
"We were feeding off of each other," said Thrower. "Tyra did a good job of finding Isa, and she hit some big shots tonight. We learn through these tough moments that we need to fight, and we see our true character."
Thrower finished the night with 13 points and a team-best 16 rebounds. Conde was the Jacks' leading scorer with 16 points with all five field goals coming from outside the arc. The senior now occupies the team's No. 10 spot all-time with 110 career 3-pointers.
Tyra Turner dished out a team-high seven assists and did not commit a turnover in Thursday's win. Turner entered the night ranked second in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio.
HSU returns to action Saturday night in a Senior Day showdown with San Francisco State. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive early and support the team's seniors.
